September, 2014

I was privileged to join the Biology Faculty from BYU-Idaho on an excursion to Ecuador to visit the Amazon basin, the cloud forest (temperate forests in the foothills of the Andes), and the Galapagos Islands. It really was the trip of a lifetime. I’ve been slowly editing and categorizing photographs. I will post a few galleries of images here. For more exhaustive bird galleries, you may want to visit my flickr page here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/50655108@N05/

The Galapagos Islands were great. We were able to visit four islands (San Cristobal, Floreana, Santa Cruz, and Isabela). The landscape was spectacular. The wildlife was spectacular and approachable (great for photography). Overall it was just a great and cool place. Below are some landscape photographs and a few wildlife images. For a more exhaustive bird and animal gallery you could visit my flickr album here: Galapagos Islands (wildlife)

Charles Darwin Monument, Isla San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands 2014

Wrecked Ship, Isla San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands 2014

Kicker Rock off of Isla San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands 2014

Beach with Volcana, Isla San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands 2014

Moss-covered Tree at Junco Lake, Isla San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands 2014

Plants on the Volcano at Junco Lake, Isla San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands 2014

BYU-Idaho Biology Faculty on the Volcano at Junco Lake, Isla San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands 2014

Darwin Statue/Arch, Isla Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands 2014

Volcano on Isla Isabel, Galapagos Islands 2014

Sunrise from the Beach at Isla Isabel, Galapagos Islands 2014

Blue-footed Boobies, Galapagos Islands 2014

Brown Pelicans, Galapagos Islands 2014

Magnificent Frigatebird, Galapagos Islands 2014

Galapagos Penguins, Galapagos Islands 2014

Greater Flamingo, Galapagos Islands 2014

Brown Noddy, Galapagos Islands 2014

Lava Gull, Galapagos Islands 2014

Red-billed Tropicbird, Galapagos Islands 2014

Finch Extremes: Large Ground Finch (top), Warbler Finch (bottom), Galapagos Islands 2014

Marine Iguanas, Galapagos Islands 2014

Giant Tortoises, Galapagos Islands 2014

Sea Lions, Galapagos Islands 2014

Sally Lightfoot Crab, Galapagos Islands 2014

I was privileged to join the Biology Faculty from BYU-Idaho on an excursion to Ecuador to visit the Amazon basin, the cloud forest (temperate forests in the foothills of the Andes), and the Galapagos Islands. It really was the trip of a lifetime. I’ve been slowly editing and categorizing photographs. I will post a few galleries of images here. For more exhaustive bird galleries, you may want to visit my flickr page here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/50655108@N05/

This post contains some images that highlight the time we spent at the Bella Vista Cloud Forest Reserve. This was a beautiful location where we were fortunate enough to see a wide variety of birds as: Toucans, Hummingbirds, Parrots, Barbets, Mountain Tanagers, and many others. Because of the lights at the lodge huge numbers of beautiful moths visit the reserve in the evenings. The weather was great and the scenery and plant life was spectacular. We spent two days here and could have stayed longer. Below are some landscape and wildlife photos. For a more exhaustive bird/wildlife gallery visit my flickr album here: Bella Vista Cloud Forest Reserve

Cloud Forest (afternoon), Bella Vista Cloud Forest Reserve, Ecuador 2014

Cloud Forest (morning), Bella Vista Cloud Forest Reserve, Ecuador 2014

Ferns and Plants, Bella Vista Cloud Forest Reserve, Ecuador 2014

Beetles eating (I forget the name of the plant), Bella Vista Cloud Forest Reserve, Ecuador 2014

Turquoise Jay, Bella Vista Cloud Forest Reserve, Ecuador 2014

Equator Marker, near Bella Vista Cloud Forest Reserve, Ecuador 2014

Booted Rackettail, Bella Vista Cloud Forest Reserve, Ecuador 2014

Buff-tailed Coronet, Bella Vista Cloud Forest Reserve, Ecuador 2014

Masked Trogon, Bella Vista Cloud Forest Reserve, Ecuador 2014

White-faced Puffbird, Bella Vista Cloud Forest Reserve, Ecuador 2014

Big Moth, Bella Vista Cloud Forest Reserve, Ecuador 2014

I was privileged to join the Biology Faculty from BYU-Idaho on an excursion to Ecuador to visit the Amazon basin, the cloud forest (temperate forests in the foothills of the Andes), and the Galapagos Islands. It really was the trip of a lifetime. I’ve been slowly editing and categorizing photographs. I will post a few galleries of images here. For more exhaustive bird galleries, you may want to visit my flickr page here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/50655108@N05/

This post contains some images that highlight the time a couple other faculty and I spent at the Sani Lodge in the Amazon Basin. This was an amazing place and we were fortunate enough to see a wide variety of animals such as: Caiman, Giant River Otters, Vipers, Monkeys, etc. We also obviously saw great birds including: Toucans, Macaws, Parrots, Antbirds, Barbets, Cotingas, Tanagers, and many others. We were able to spend five days in the Amazon and it was so great. Below are some landscape and wildlife photos. For a more exhaustive bird/wildlife gallery visit my flickr album here: Amazon Basic, Ecuador (wildlife)

Napo River (site of Sani Lodge), Ecuador, 2014

Napo River (in fog and rain), Ecuador 2014

Elevated “sidewalk” leading to Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

Jose (our guide), paddling a canoe in the black water stream, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

Canoe Dock, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

Guest Cabin, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

View of the Lake from the Restaurant, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

Trail Head, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

Rob at the base of the Canopy Tower, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

Todd, Rob, and Myself on the Canopy Tower, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

Canopy Tower, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

Giant River Otter, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

Woolly Monkey, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

Black-headed Parrot, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

Black Hawk-Eagle with Snake, YaSuni National Park, Ecuador 2014

White-throated Toucan, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

American Pygmy Kingfisher, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

Capped Heron, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

Squirrel Cuckoo, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

Gilded Barbet, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

Giant Potoo, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

Pied Puffbird, Sani Lodge, Ecuador 2014

I was privileged to join the Biology Faculty from BYU-Idaho on an excursion to Ecuador to visit the Amazon basin, the cloud forest (temperate forests in the foothills of the Andes), and the Galapagos Islands. It really was the trip of a lifetime. I’ve been slowly editing and categorizing photographs. I will post a few galleries of images here. For more exhaustive bird galleries, you may want to visit my flickr page here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/50655108@N05/

Here are a few photographs in and around the city of Quito

City of Quito, Ecuador 2014

Virgin of Quito, Quito, Ecuador 2014

Equator Marker, Quito, Ecuador 2014

Shrine to the Virgin Mary, near Pifo, Ecuador 2014